The introduction of the new Snapdragon X2 Plus marks a significant advancement in mid-range laptop technology. Qualcomm's latest system-on-a-chip aims to enhance the performance of affordable Windows PCs, positioned just beneath the premium X2 Elite released earlier this year. Built on an advanced 3nm process node, the X2 Plus promises improved power efficiency and includes a third-generation Qualcomm Oryon CPU available in both 10-core and 6-core versions, reaching frequencies up to 4.0 GHz.
This new chip claims to offer a remarkable 35% improvement in single-core CPU performance while consuming 43% less power compared to its predecessors. The 10-core variant is said to provide 3.5 times the CPU performance of rival chips at similar power levels, allowing laptops to maintain multi-day battery life without compromising speed. Its capacity for high-speed memory is also noteworthy, supporting up to 128 GB of LPDDR5x RAM with a bandwidth of 152 GB/s.
Moreover, the Snapdragon X2 Plus features an integrated Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, delivering 80 TOPS of AI performance, which is 78% faster than earlier models. This enhancement enables the execution of over 50 AI tools on-device, allowing for sophisticated features in Windows, such as Cocreator and Live Captions. The launch of this chip aims to provide high-performance capabilities in laptops priced under $1,000, intensifying competition with models like the MacBook Air.